Many homeowners don’t think about the pipes in their home until there is a major problem such as a backed up toilet or a clogged drain. When this happens, most people will reach for chemical drain cleaners first instead of finding other solutions to deal with the problem. According to Consumer Reports, it was estimated that Americans spend $150 million every year on chemical drain cleaners, noting that much of that money goes right down the drain. If you’ve ever used chemical drain cleaners, you may find that others are simply too harsh and may even pose a danger to you or your family’s health, while others don’t work well at all. The next time you have a clogged drain, consider choosing natural and safe ways to remove blockages from your pipes without harming your health or the environment.
Why you shouldn’t use a chemical drain cleaner
Apart from being a waste of money, a chemical drain cleaner can have a negative impact on your health if inhaled, ingested, or if it comes in contact with your eyes or skin. Symptoms of drain cleaner poisoning include severe abdominal pain, swelling of the throat and having difficulty breathing, loss of vision, severe mouth pain, burns, tissue damage, and vomiting. Accidentally swallowing drain cleaner can damage the esophagus, stomach, and other vital parts of the body, and death may even occur as long as a month after the drain cleaner was ingested. To prevent this from happening, here are 3 ways to naturally unclog your drain.
Snakes
When you’ve got a clogged drain, the first thing that you should do is to use mechanical methods to clear your pipes before anything else. A snake or auger can penetrate clogs, and all you have to do is to use a short model to fish hair from below the sink’s strainer. Longer versions can reach the main drain, but you may have to remove the sink trap first to effective unclog your pipes.
Homemade drain cleaner
You’ll need 2 cups of baking soda, 4 cups of boiling water, and 1 cup of white vinegar to effectively clean your drain. First, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow with 2 cups of boiling water, wait for about 5 minutes, then pour the rest of the baking soda. Pour the vinegar and plug the drain. You should hear a sizzling sound and see bubbles rising up. Repeat the process as needed.
Wet/dry vacuum
For stubborn clogs, use a wet/dry vacuum to clear your drain. However, it’s imperative that you follow the specific instructions on the manual if you’re using the vacuum to unclog your pipes. You may find that this is one of the fastest and most effective ways to deal with clogs.
The next time you have a clogged drain, forget the chemical drain cleaner and use any of these natural solutions instead. All of these are safe to use and can effectively unclog the pipes in your home.